All Questions
6,053 questions
44
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Does $SL_3(R)$ embed in $SL_2(R)$?
Is there any non-trivial ring such that $SL_{3}(R)$ is isomorphic to a subgroup of $SL_{2}(R)$?
$SL_{3}(\mathbb{Z})$ is not an amalgam, and has the wrong number of order $2$ elements to be a subgroup ...
- 1,012
43
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Explicit elements of $K((x))((y)) \setminus K((x,y))$
In an answer to the popular question on common false beliefs in mathematics
Examples of common false beliefs in mathematics
I mentioned that many people conflate the two different kinds of formal ...
- 65.4k
42
votes
6
answers
7k
views
An algebra of "integrals"
When discussing divergent integrals with people, I got curious about the following:
Is there an $\mathbb{R}$-algebra $A$ together with a map (could be defined on just a subspace)
$$\int_0^{\infty}: ...
- 3,806
42
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What is the Krull dimension of the ring of holomorphic functions on a complex manifold?
Consider a connected holomorphic manifold $X$ and its ring of holomorphic functions $\mathcal O(X).$
My general question is simply: in which cases is the Krull dimension $\dim \mathcal O(X)$ known?
...
- 47.5k
42
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Serre intersection formula and derived algebraic geometry?
Let $X$ be a regular scheme (all local rings are regular). Let $Y,Z$ be two closed subschemes defined by ideals sheaves $\mathcal I,\mathcal J$. Serre gave a beautiful formula to count the ...
- 30.5k
42
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What are the main structure theorems on finitely generated commutative monoids?
I should read J. C. Rosales and P. A. García-Sánchez's book Finitely Generated Commutative Monoids and L. Redei's book The Theory of Finitely Generated Commutative Semigroups. I haven't. But here's ...
- 22.3k
42
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is every Noetherian Commutative Ring a quotient of a Noetherian Domain?
This was an interesting question posed to me by a friend who is very interested in commutative algebra. It also has some nice geometric motivation.
The question is in two parts. The first, as stated ...
41
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Are submersions of differentiable manifolds flat morphisms?
Let $\pi \colon M\to N$ be a smooth map between real smooth manifolds. Then $C^\infty(M)$ forms a module over $C^\infty(N)$ (via pullback). Is this module flat when $\pi$ is a submersion?
Recall that ...
- 5,343
41
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What is the probability two random maps on n symbols commute?
It is well known that two randomly chosen permutations of $n$ symbols commute with probability $p_n/n!$ where $p_n$ is the number of partitions of $n$. This is a special case of the fact that in a ...
- 38.6k
40
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is every connected scheme path connected?
Every (?) algebraic geometer knows that concepts like homotopy groups or singular homology groups are irrelevant for schemes in their Zariski topology. Yet, I am curious about the following.
Let's ...
- 47.5k
40
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is the radical of an irreducible ideal irreducible?
I originally posted this to math.stackexchange.com
here. I got a partial answer, but I now suspect that the complete answer is much harder than I thought, so I'm posting it here.
Fix a commutative ...
- 401
40
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Rigid non-archimedean real closed fields
Update. The question has been recently answered in the positive by David Marker and Charles Steinhorn (as in indicated in Marker's answer). Note that Remark 3 below is now expanded by reference to a ...
- 17.7k
39
votes
3
answers
8k
views
What is the "intuition" behind "brave new algebra"?
Y.I. Manin mentions in a recent interview
the need for a “codification of efficient new intuitive tools, such as … the “brave new algebra” of homotopy theorists”. This makes me puzzle, because I ...
- 10.8k
39
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Algebraic machinery for algebraic geometry
Hello everybody,
I'm a math student who has just got his first degree, and I am studying algebraic geometry since a few months. Something I have noticed is the (to my eyes) huge amount of commutative ...
39
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What is Serre's condition (S_n) for sheaves?
The Serre's condition $(S_n)$, especially $(S_2)$, has been mentioned in a few MO answers: see here and here for example. I am pretty sure I have seen it in other questions as well, but could not ...
- 30.5k
38
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Over which fields are symmetric matrices diagonalizable ?
The question is motivated by this one real symmetric matrix has real eigenvalues - elementary proof:
Are there other fields $F$ than $\mathbb{R}$ (maybe some valued fields or real closed fields) ...
- 567
38
votes
2
answers
11k
views
A finitely generated, locally free module over a domain which is not projective?
This is a followup to a previous question
What is the right definition of the Picard group of a commutative ring?
where I was worried about the distinction between invertible modules and rank one ...
- 65.4k
38
votes
1
answer
10k
views
Infinite tensor products
Let $A$ be a commutative ring and $M_i, i \in I$ be a infinite family of $A$-modules. Define their tensor product $\bigotimes_{i \in I} M_i$ to be a representing object of the functor of multilinear ...
- 63.1k
37
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Finite extension of fields with no primitive element
What is an example of a finite field extension which is not generated by a single element?
Background: A finite field extension E of F is generated by a primitive element if and only if there are a ...
37
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How can I define the product of two ideals categorically?
Given a commutative ring $R$, there is a category whose objects are epimorphisms surjective ring homomorphisms $R \to S$ and whose morphisms are commutative triangles making two such epimorphisms ...
- 118k
37
votes
1
answer
1k
views
If $A$, $B$ are abelian groups such that $\mathrm{Hom}(A, G) \cong \mathrm{Hom}(B, G)$ for all abelian groups $G$, must $A$ and $B$ be isomorphic?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom}$The question is in the title. If the isomorphism $\Hom(A, G) \cong \Hom(B, G)$ is natural in $G$ then this is just the Yoneda Lemma. If $A$ and $B$ are finitely ...
- 1,141
37
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What does it mean geometrically that an element in a domain is irreducible?
Consider a domain $A$ and a non-zero element $f\in A$. That element $f$ is prime if and only if the subscheme $V(f)\subset \operatorname{Spec}(A)$ is integral and this is a completely satisfactory ...
- 47.5k
36
votes
17
answers
6k
views
Canonical examples of algebraic structures
Please list some examples of common examples of algebraic structures. I was thinking answers of the following form.
"When I read about a [insert structure here], I immediately think of [example]."
...
36
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Flatness and local freeness
The following statement is well-known:
Let $A$ be a commutative Noetherian ring and $M$ a finitely generated $A$-module. Then $M$ is flat if and only if $M_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is a free $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$-...
- 2,857
36
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Are large powers of polynomials linearly independent?
Let $P_1,\dots,P_k$ be polynomials over $\mathbf{C}$, no two of them being proportional.
Does there exist an integer $N$ such that $P_1^N,\dots,P_k^N$ are linearly independent?
- 4,653
36
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Rings for which no polynomial induces the zero function
For any commutative ring $R$ let $R[x]$ denote the ring of polynomials with coefficients in $R$. Any polynomial $p \in R[x]$ naturally induces a function $\hat{p} :R \rightarrow R$. In some cases, a ...
- 525
36
votes
4
answers
5k
views
What is interesting/useful about big Witt Vectors?
$p$-typical Witt vectors are (among other things) a canonical way of associating to a perfect ring $A$ of characteristic $p$ a complete DVR of characteristic $0$ with residue ring $A$ generalizing $\...
- 10.5k
36
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The roots of unity in a tensor product of commutative rings
For $i\in\{1,2\}$ let $A_i$ be a commutative ring with unity whose additive group is free and finitely-generated. Assume that $A_i$ is connected in the sense that $0$ and $1$ are unique solutions of ...
- 4,535
35
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Do convolution and multiplication satisfy any nontrivial algebraic identities?
For (suitable) real- or complex-valued functions $f$ and $g$ on a (suitable) abelian group $G$, we have two bilinear operations: multiplication -
$$(f\cdot g)(x) = f(x)g(x),$$
and convolution -
$$(f*...
- 5,992
35
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why Cohen-Macaulay rings have become important in commutative algebra?
I want to know the historic reasons behind singling out Cohen-Macaulay rings as interesting algebraic objects.
I'm reviewing my previous lecture notes about Cohen-Macaulay rings because now I'm ...
- 453
35
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Matrix factorizations and physics
I have heard during some seminar talks that there are applications of the theory of
matrix factorizations in string theory. A quick search shows mostly papers written by physicists. Are there any ...
- 30.5k
35
votes
6
answers
3k
views
On the universal property of the completion of an ordered field
I have been trying to write up some notes on completion of ordered fields, ideally in the general case (i.e., not just completing $\mathbb{Q}$ to get $\mathbb{R}$ but considering the completion via ...
- 65.4k
34
votes
8
answers
4k
views
Uncountable counterexamples in algebra
In functional analysis, there are many examples of things that "go wrong" in the nonseparable setting. For instance, my favorite version of the spectral theorem only works for operators on a ...
34
votes
4
answers
5k
views
What is the right definition of the Picard group of a commutative ring?
This is a rather technical question with no particular importance in any case of actual interest to me, but I've been writing up some notes on commutative algebra and flailing on this point for some ...
- 65.4k
34
votes
1
answer
18k
views
Matsumura: "Commutative Algebra" versus "Commutative Ring Theory"
There are two books by Matsumura on commutative algebra. The earlier one is called Commutative Algebra and is frequently cited in Hartshorne. The more recent version is called Commutative Ring ...
34
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What is the geometric meaning of integral closure?
More precisely, how does one characterize integrally closed finitely generated domains (say, over C) based on geometric properties of their varieties? Given a finitely generated domain A and its ...
- 118k
34
votes
2
answers
933
views
If $A$ is the ring of continuous functions on a genus $g$ surface, can the genus of $X$ be seen by simple algebra in $A$?
I was describing to a friend the result that a compact Hausdorff space is determined up to homeomorphism up to by its ring of continuous functions, and he asked how one could see the genus of a ...
- 1,462
33
votes
5
answers
13k
views
Atiyah-MacDonald, exercise 2.11
Let $A$ be a commutative ring with $1$ not equal to $0$. (The ring A is not necessarily a domain, and is not necessarily Noetherian.) Assume we have an injective map of free $A$-modules $A^m \to A^n$...
- 1,098
33
votes
5
answers
4k
views
(Short) Exact sequences with no commutative diagram between them
This question was asked by a student (in a slightly different form), and I was unable to answer it properly. I think it's quite interesting.
The problem is to produce an example of the following ...
- 2,287
33
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Are surjectivity and injectivity of polynomial functions from $\mathbb{Q}^n$ to $\mathbb{Q}$ algorithmically decidable?
Is there an algorithm which, given a polynomial $f \in \mathbb{Q}[x_1, \dots, x_n]$,
decides whether the mapping $f: \mathbb{Q}^n \rightarrow \mathbb{Q}$ is surjective,
respectively, injective? --
And ...
- 19.6k
33
votes
2
answers
2k
views
If a field extension gives affine space, was it already affine space?
Let $R$ be a commutative Noetherian $F$-algebra, where $F$ is a
field (perfect, say). Assume that $R \otimes_F \overline F$ is a polynomial ring over the
algebraic closure $\overline F$.
Does it ...
- 27.8k
33
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Noetherian rings of infinite Krull dimension?
Since Noetherian rings satisfy the ascending chain condition, every such ring must contain infinitely many chains of prime ideals s.t. the heights of these chains are unbounded.
The only example I ...
- 331
33
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Is there a (discrete) monoid M injecting into its group completion G for which BM is not homotopy equivalent to BG?
For a (discrete) monoid $M$, the classifying space $BM$ is the
geometric realization of the nerve of the one object category whose
hom-set is $M$. (This definition gives the usual classfiying space
...
- 5,309
32
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Duals and Tensor products
Let $A$ be a commutative ring with a unit element. Let $M$ and $N$ be $A$-modules. Let $M^v$ and $N^v$ be the dual modules. In general, do we have $M^v \otimes N^v \cong (M\otimes N)^v$? It is ...
- 530
32
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Invariant polynomials under a group action (hidden GIT)
Let's say I start with the polynomial ring in $n$ variables $R = \mathbb{Z}[x_1,...,x_n]$ (in the case at hand I had $\mathbb{C}$ in place of $\mathbb{Z}$).
Now the symmetric group $\mathfrak{S}_n$ ...
- 1,993
32
votes
6
answers
9k
views
What is the universal property of normalization?
What is the universal property of normalization? I'm looking for an answer something like
If X is a scheme and Y→X is its
normalization, then the morphism
Y→X has property P and any ...
32
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Krull dimension less or equal than transcendence degree?
Let $k$ be a field, and $A$ a $k$-domain, so that the fraction field of $A$ has transcendence degree $n$ over $k$.
If $A$ is finitely-generated over $k$, then $A$ has Krull dimension $n$ (Theorem A ...
- 13k
32
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Do there exist non-PIDs in which every countably generated ideal is principal?
The title pretty much says it all: suppose $R$ is a commutative integral domain such that every countably generated ideal is principal. Must $R$ be a principal ideal domain?
More generally: for ...
- 65.4k
32
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What facts in commutative algebra fail miserably for simplicial commutative rings, even up to homotopy?
Simplicial commutative rings are very easy to describe. They're just commutative monoids in the monoidal category of simplicial abelian groups. However, I just realized that a priori, it's not clear ...
- 19.6k
32
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is the hierarchy of relative geometric constructibility by straightedge and compass a dense order?
Consider the hierarchy of relative geometric constructibility by
straightedge and compass. Namely, given a geometric figure $B$, a
set of points in the plane, we define that geometric figure $A$ is
...
- 236k